Clutch actuating mechanism



March 2, 1948. MlLLER 2,436,817

" CLUTCH ACTUATING MECHANISM Original Filed DeC. 8, 1941 Membr- K MLZZen Patented Mar. 2,1948

" osnce Origihal application December 8;, 1-941, Serial No. 422,045. Divided and this application July '22,- 194'4, Sefifll N} 546,171

19" Claims.

This application isa; division of my copen'din'g a plication serial No. 422,045 filed December 8, 941, w ich nas'matured into'P'atent No; 2379,023, June 26'; 1945. Y v

This" invention relates to friction clutches and has partioularreferenee; t an; improved clutch actuating mechanism, which although especially designed for use with t o-way clutches" having two disks adapted to-n'ave drive transmitted thereto seleetivel'y is also adapted for use with single'clisk cmtehesE I p Asalieht featu'reol? thepres'ent invention consfsts in the erevismner spring means caged between the t'woj s'e'ctioiiis" of the pressure plate which are axiallyniovable relativeto one another, said sprlng"ma"ns" be1ng'niaintained between said sectio'n's in preloaded ooriditioh, so as to cooperate withclutchactuating levers to apply increased spr i'ng' pressuretethe ciutcn disk when" the clutch is engaged, and arrow substantially constant pressure regardless of the usual wear Oh the cllitbh disk faeiiig's", afidDeffiiitdfiOVfilentbf the clutch aetuati'rig" levers past dearl -center, sothat the; olutcli is autonatieai1 1 ockea in engaged plfsitidh against accidental disengagement until rhafiu allyfeleasedi- H The in'veii'tior'i inustr'ated in the 'accorn'panyilig' drawing; which is? a longitudinal section t'iirougna clutch embodying the clutch actuating mechanism ofmy mvennnn; half of the section being omitted to permit" showing the parts on' a larger scale. r

Referring tn the drawing; the referencenu eral" W desi nates theflywheel of engine, and l I the hank plate thereon; extending rearwardly froin the flywheel adapted for direct connection" with the propeller shaft or tdbeeXtehded'irito the nontend. of the gear box ofa.= transmission; a'ndli'i' is" aquill surrounding the shaft and' serving" as" an auxiliary driven member; the"shaftlfbei'rig' for high ratio drive ana -the q'uill I3 -fo'rlowratiodrive, as will soon appea'n The shaft if has the usual pilot beariiig" M supporting the front end. thereof at the center'o'f the'fiywheel I'U. l5 and lfi'are'clutch uses; the disk l-s having its center hub 11 splined on tlie' ffoiit endoftheshaft I2'-to transmit drive flUIf-i the flyWlieel-to-theshaft when the'disk ['5 is en'g-"agedand' the disk [Shaving its hub l3 splifle'd 6n thfiohfihdof th'e'quill l'3 to transmit drive from the flywheel tdthdquill-When the disk ls is efigagefib A13" IS areshown-the usual pads 61" ratings-o the c'lutch disks, and at 2'0-2| is indicated a twd 's dtib'li pressure plate between the two disks-adapteu wlien Iif'lidiblWLl'dlj t0 I2 is a driven shaft Z- engage disli IS with t"e driving face? on the bak- Ofthe flywheelarid the cblnba l'lldh driving face on the frontof triepressure plate section 29 The pressure plate is also movable real Wardl'y for engagemen wnn disk l6 to cause en} gagement' thereof the driving f aoe' 2'4 on the back plate H and the c'bmpanien dfiv'i'ng' faif 25; on the back of the pressure plate section 2]". The pressure plate sebtiensa're suitably castlike the" flywheel and backpla ifie ajfid-th faces 22--'-25 are accuratel maeninea on these cast' paftsto insure smooth clutch engagement; The back plate is s lli tfbly bblt'd t0 the flywheel by means (if its ma lglnal flange portion 25; as indicated at 21' The pressure plate sections have sliding dr i g cenn'eetions peripherally thereof With the portion of the flywheel;- as indicated at 28, and-haveregistering recesses 29 provided therein in circu-mferent'ially' spaced relation for reception of coiled corhpres'sion springs 36. Posts 3T,- of which there are preferably six for the-clutch in eircumferentially spaced relation, have annular shoulders projecting from the inner end portions 33" thereof in longitudinally spaced relation, and these endpor'tions 33" are arranged to be entered in radial notches 34 provided therefor in the periphery of the pressure plate sections Whenthe pressure plate sections are forced together. The shoulders 32 thereafter limit the extent-towhich the pressure plate sections will be free tomove apart; thereby determining the preload compression of the springs 36, while at the same time allowing for further compression of the springs in the engagement ofthe clutc-hto secure engagement'under increased spring pressure; The-an- .nula-r shoulders 35 and 3% provided onthem!- ripheral portions of the pressure plate sections prevent disengagement of the posts-'51 under cemtrifugal forcewith the pressure plate inneutral or in either engaged. position; The posts 3| pr'o 'ject freely through holes 31 provided in the back 3 operation with a yoke, or other clutch operating means, not shown. Rollers 48 carried on the forward end of the throw-out collar engage in the inner forked ends of the double forked members 43 a distance somewhat farther from the pivots 44 than the rollers 42, whereby to obtain a desired pressure-multiplication in the engagement of the clutch in either direction and have the advantage of a clutch operable with lighter hand or pedal pressure. Depressions 49 in the arms of the forked members 43 have the rollers 48 engage therein when the throw-out collar has been moved to either extreme position for engagement of the disk [5 or the disk [6. In that way the throw-out collar is held yieldingly in either of these extreme positions and there is avoided the likelihood of the clutch being accidentally disengaged. The forked members hold the pressure plate in neutral position when the throw-out collar 46 is in neutral position.

It should be understood that although I have shown a clutch having two disks I5 and I6 adapted to be driven selectively, the two-section pressure plate and the clutch actuating mechanism of my invention are also applicable to a clutch having only the one disk 15. Forward movement of the throw-out collar 46 by means of a manually operable clutch pedal or lever (not shown) causes engagement of the disk I5. On the other hand, when the collar 46 is moved rearwardly the disk I6 is engaged. The springs 39 in addition to providing resilient engagement in either a single disk or two-disk clutch so that close adjustment i not required, even though the clutch is of the over-center type, provide substantially constant pressure and accordingly non-slipping engagement regardless of the usual wear on the clutch facings l9, In addition, the springs act to hold the throw-out collar 46 resiliently in either engaged position, thus avoiding likelihood of accidental disengagement of the clutch. On the other hand, when the throw-out collar Z6 i in the neutral position shown, the forked members 43 hold the pressure plate in the mid-position, out of engagement with both disks, and there is no likelihood of accidental engagement of the clutch.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. In a friction clutch, the combination of a flywheel constituting the driving element, a clutch disk constituting the driven element, a pressure plate for engaging the clutch disk with the flywheel and comprising relatively axially movable parts, spring means caged between said pressure plate parts in preloaded condition, one or more pressure plate actuating members having a lost motion operating connection with said axially movable parts so as to permit movement relative to one of said parts upon movement with the other of said parts in engagement and disengagement of the clutch, said spring means normally maintaining the lost motion connection in fully extended condition, said members extending from the pressure plate to engage the clutch and further compress the aforesaid spring means so that the clutch is engaged resiliently under increased spring pressure, and clutch engaging means 00-- operating with said actuating members to move the pressure plate.

2. In a friction clutch, the combination of a flywheel constituting the driving element, a back plate therefor, a clutch disk constituting the driven element, a pressure plate for engag t clutch disk with the flywheel and comprising relatively axiall movable parts, spring means caged between said pressure plate parts in preloaded condition, one or more pressure plate actuating members extending from the pressure plate to engage the clutch and further compress the aforesaid spring means so that the clutch is engaged resiliently under increased spring pressure, levers pivoted on the back plate intermediate their ends and connected at one end with said actuating members, a throw-out collar, and intermediate members pivoted on the back plate and operatively connected at one end to the other end of said levers and operatively connected at the other end to the throw-out collar,

3. A clutch as set forth in claim 2, wherein the last mentioned connection includes a roller mounted on the throw-out collar and rollingly engaged in a fork on the intermediate member, one of the arms of the fork having a recess provided therein to establish a position of the throwout collar corresponding to the engaged position of the clutch in which the spring means is compressed above the preload pressure to a predetermined pressure.

4. A clutch as set forth in claim 2, including means for holding the throw-out collar releasably in a position of the collar corresponding to the engaged position of the clutch in which the spring means is compressed above the preload pressure to a predetermined pressure.

5. In a friction clutch, the combination of a. flywheel constituting the driving element, a back plate therefor, a clutch disk constituting the driven element, a pressure plate for engaging the clutch disk with the flywheel, one or more pressure plate actuating members extending from the pressure plate to engage the clutch, levers pivoted on the back plate intermediate their ends but closer to their outer ends and connected attheir outer ends with said actuating members, a throwout collar, and intermediate pressure-multiplication lever members pivoted nearer one end on the back plate and operatively connected at the short end to the inner end of said levers and operatively connected at the long end to the throwout collar so that a given forward movement of the throw-out collar results in a shorter forward movement of the pressure plate.

6. In a friction clutch, the combination-of a flywheel constituting the driving element, a clutch disk constituting the driven element, a pressure plate for engaging the clutch disk with the flywheel and comprising relatively axially movable parts, spring means caged between said pressure plate parts in preloaded condition, one or more pressure plate actuating members extending from the pressure plate to engage the clutch and further compress the aforesaid spring means so that the clutch is engaged resiliently under increased spring pressure, levers pivoted on the back plate intermediate their ends but closer to their outer ends and connected at their outer ends with said actuating members, a throw-out collar, and intermediate pressuremultiplication lever members pivoted nearer one end on the back plate and operatively connected at the short end to the inner end of said levers and operatively connected at the long end to the throw-out collar so that a given forward movement of the throw-out collar results in a shorter forward movement of the pressure plate.

In a friction clutch, the combination of a flywheel" having a back plate, a clutch disk,- a pressure plate for engaging the clutch disk with the flywheel" and comprising relatively axially movable parts, preloaded spring means normally urging said pressure plate parts apart, whereby the clutch is adapted to be engaged resiliently with increased pressure upon engagement of said pressure plate with the clutch disk, one or more pressure plate actuating members extending rearwardly from the pressure plate having a lost motion connection with the forward axially movable part thereof, which connection predetermines the extent to which said parts maybe separated and, hence, predetermines the preload pressure, a throw-out member movable toward and away from the back plate, and positive act ing over-center lever means operatively connected with'the pressure plate actuating members and operable by said throw-out member to engage the clutch and lock the same in engaged position.

8. In a friction clutch, the combination of a flywheel having a back plate, a clutch disk, a pressure plate for-engaging said disk with the flywheel, one or more pressure plate actuating members extending behind the back plate, levers pivoted on the back plate intermediate their ends but closer to their outer ends and connected at their outer ends with said actuating members, spring means subjected to deflection by clutch engaging, movement of said pressure plate actuating members and active'in deflected condition against the pressure plate in the direction of clutch engagement whereby the clutch is engaged resiliently under increased spring pressure, a throw-out member movable toward and away from, the back plate, and over-center means operatively connected with the inner ends of the aforesaid levers and operable by said throw-out member to move the pressure plate to engaged position and lock the clutch in engaged condition.

9. In a friction clutch, the combination of a flywheel having a back plate, a clutch disk, a pressure plate for engaging said disk with the flywheel, pressure plate actuating members eX- tending behind the back plate, levers pivoted on the back plate intermediate their ends but closer to their outer ends and connected at their outer ends with said actuating members, preloaded spring means subjected to deflection by clutch engaging movement of said pressure plate actuating members and active in deflected condition against the pressure plate in the direction of clutch engagement whereby the clutch is engaged resiliently under increased spring pressure, a throw-out member movable toward and away from the back plate, and over-center means operatively connected with the inner ends of the aforesaid levers and operable by said throw-out member to move the pressure plate to engaged position and lock the clutch in engaged condition.

10. In a friction clutch, the combination of a flywheel having a back plate, a clutch disk, a pressure plate for engaging said disk with the flywheel, pressure plate actuating members extending behind the back plate, levers pivoted on the back plate intermediate their ends but closer to their outer ends and connected at their outer ends with said actuating members, spring means subjected to deflection in the engagement of the pressure plate with said disk whereby the clutch is engaged resiliently, a throw-out member, and

' 6 intermediate pressure-multiplication. levermembers pivoted nearer one. end on the back plate and operatively connected at, the short end to the inner endof said: l'eversand operatively connected at the long end to the throw-out member so that a given forward: movement. oi the; throwout member results in a shorter forward move.-

ment of the pressure plate, and viceversa.

11. In a friction clutch, the. combination of a flywheel having a back plate, a clutch disk, a pressure plate for engaging said disk" with the flywheel, pressure plate actuatingmembers: ex:- tending behind the back plate, levers pivoted on the back plate intermediate their ends but closer to their outer ends and connected at their outer ends withsaid actuating members; preloaded spring means subjected to deflection in the engagement of the pressure plate with said disk whereby the clutch is engaged resiliently under increased spring pressure, a throw-out member, and intermediate pressure-multiplication lever members pivoted nearer one end on the back plate and operatively connected at theshort end to the inner end of said levers and operatively connected at the long end to the throw-outmembers so that a given forward movement of the throw-out member results in a shorter forward movement of thepressure plate, andvi'ceversa.

12; In a friction clutch, the combination of a flywheel constituting the driving-element, a back plate therefor, aclutch disk constituting the drivenelement, a pressureplate for engaging the clutch, disk with the flywheel and comprising relatively axially movable parts, spring means caged between said pressure plate partsin preloaded condition, one ormore-pressure'plate actuating members ext-ending fromthe pressure plate to engage the clutch and further compress the aforesaid spring means so that theclutch is en'- gaged resiliently under increased spring pressure, levers pivoted on theback plate intermediate their ends but closerto their outerends and connected at their outer ends with said actuating members, a throw-out collar, and intermediate members pivoted on the back plate and operatively connected at one end to the inner end of said levers and operatively connected at the other end to the throw-out collar, whereby a given forward movement of the throw-out collar results in a shorterforward movement of the pressure plate.

13. A clutch as set forth in claim 12, wherein the last mentioned connection includes a roller mounted on the throw-out collar and rollingly engaged in a fork on the intermediate member, one of the arms of the fork having a recess provided therein to establish a position of the throwout collar corresponding to the engaged position of the .clutch in which the spring means is compressed above the preload pressure to a predetermined pressure.

14. A clutch as set forth in claim 12, including means for holding the throw-out collar releasably in a position of the collar corresponding to the engaged position of the clutch in which the spring means is compressed above the preload pressure to a predetermined pressure.

15. In a friction clutch, the combination of a flywheel constituting the driving element, a back plate therefor, a clutch disk constituting the driven element, a pressure plate for engaging the clutch disk with the flywheel and comprising relatively axially movable parts, spring means caged between said pressure plate parts in preloaded condition, one or more pressure plate actuating members extending from the pressure plate to aioresaidlspring means so that the clutch is engaged resiliently under increased spring pressure, levers pivoted on the back plate intermediate their ends and connected at their outer end with saidactuating members, a throw-out collar, and intermediate pressure multiplication lever members pivoted nearer one end on the back plate and operatively connected at the short end to the inner end of said levers and operatively connected at the long end to the throw-out collar so that a given forward movement of the throw-out collar results in a shorter forward movement of the pressure plate. I

16. A clutch asset forth in claim 15, wherein the last mentioned connection includes a roller mounted on the throw-out collar and rollingly engaged in a fork on the intermediate member, one of the arms of the fork having a recess provided therein to establish a position of the throwout collar corresponding to the engaged position of the clutch in which the spring means is compressed above the preload pressure to a predeter' mined pressure.

17. A clutch as set forth in claim 15, including means for holding the throw-out collar releasably in a position of the collar corresponding to the engaged position of the clutch in which the spring means is compressed above the preload pressure to a predetermined pressure.

18. In a friction clutch, the combination of a flywheel having a back plate, a clutch disk, a pressure plate for engaging said disk with the flywheel, pressure plate actuating members ex tending behind the back plate, levers pivoted on the back plate intermediate their ends and connected at their outer ends with said actuating members, spring means subjected to deflection in the engagement of the pressure plate with said disk whereby the clutch is engaged resiliently, a throw-out member, and intermediate pressuremultiplication lever members pivoted nearer one end on the back plate and operatively connected at the short end to the inner end of said levers and operatively connected at the long end to the throw-out member so that a given forward movement of the throw-out member results in a shorter forward movement of the pressure plate, and vice versa.

19. In a friction clutch, the combination of a flywheel having a back plate, a clutch disk, a pressure plate for engaging said disk with the fly-- wheel, pressure plate actuating members extending behind the back plate, levers pivoted on the back plate intermediate their ends but closer to their outer ends and connected at their outer ends with said actuating members, spring means subjected to deflection in the engagement of the pressure plate with said disk whereby the clutch is engaged resiliently, a throw-out member, and intermediate lever members pivoted intermediate their ends on the back plate and operatively connected at their outer end to the inner end of said levers and operatively connected at their inner end to the throw-out member, whereby a given forward movement of the throw-out member results in a shorter forward movement of the pressure plate, and vice versa.

KAY MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

